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United States Patent |
5,154,524
|
Anderson
|
October 13, 1992
|
One gallon car washing device
Abstract
A car-washing device includes a one-gallon reservoir and flexible tubing
leading from the reservoir to a sponge. The sponge has a central passage
formed therein to securely receive a portion of the tubing that has been
provided with a plurality of small openings. A detergent formula thus
flows in the tubing from the reservoir and through the small openings into
the sponge. A removable and replaceable protective jacket, in the form of
a nylon sleeve, protects the sponge. A valve member is provided between
the reservoir and the sponge to selectively cut off the flow of detergent
to the sponge. In use, the reservoir may be placed on top of a car and the
sponge may be manipulated to clean the outer surfaces of the car. Because
the detergent flows from a passage in the center of the sponge, the sponge
is, for the most part, self-cleaning.
Inventors:
|
Anderson; Ronald H. (261 Gundry Dr., Falls Church, VA 22046)
|
Appl. No.:
|
785423 |
Filed:
|
October 28, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: |
401/203; 401/186; 401/188R; 401/204; 401/289 |
Intern'l Class: |
A47L 013/17 |
Field of Search: |
401/289,203,204,201,188 R,186
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
800254 | Sep., 1905 | Willis | 401/204.
|
1359985 | Nov., 1920 | Gromer | 401/204.
|
1394282 | Oct., 1921 | Crosby | 401/204.
|
1426606 | Aug., 1922 | Sandholm | 401/204.
|
2526119 | Oct., 1950 | Cravis | 401/204.
|
2779962 | Feb., 1957 | Cooper | 401/203.
|
2919455 | Jan., 1960 | Turner | 401/9.
|
3063084 | Nov., 1962 | Marinus | 401/203.
|
3713744 | Jan., 1973 | Sims | 401/9.
|
4134697 | Jan., 1979 | Sparr, Sr. | 401/289.
|
4789262 | Dec., 1988 | Sanchez | 401/201.
|
4886388 | Dec., 1989 | Gulker et al. | 401/148.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
1298888 | Jul., 1969 | DE | 401/203.
|
1052041 | Jan., 1954 | FR | 401/188.
|
878521 | Oct., 1961 | GB | 401/203.
|
Primary Examiner: Bratlie; Steven A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Testardi; David A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for washing automobiles, comprising:
a container cap;
a first length of tubing extending from one side of the container cap;
a second length of tubing extending from a second side of the container
cap;
passage means extending through the container cap for connecting an
internal passage of the first length of tubing with an internal passage of
the second length of tubing;
means for at least substantially closing an end of the second length of
tubing remote from the container cap;
a plurality of small openings formed in a portion of the second length of
tubing in a vicinity near the end of the second length of tubing;
an element of porous, absorbent material secured to the second length of
tubing and covering the plurality of small openings; and
a protective jacket disposed around and substantially covering the element
of porous, absorbent material;
wherein the container cap is adapted to be secured to an opening of a
detergent-holding container after the first length of tubing has been
inserted into the detergent-holding container, wherein the internal
passage of the second length of tubing is adapted to carry a flow of
detergent from the detergent-holding container to the small openings, and
wherein the small openings are adapted to carry the detergent to the
element of porous, absorbent material;
and wherein the device further comprises:
valve means for selectively closing the internal passage of the second
length of tubing, whereby the valve means is adapted to selectively
prevent the flow of detergent in the internal passage of the second length
of tubing.
2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective jacket is
removably secured around the element of porous, absorbent material by
means of at least one separable fastener.
3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one separable
fastener comprises a hook-and-loop type fastener.
4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the protective jacket is made
in the form of a nylon sleeve.
5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the element of porous,
absorbent material comprises a sponge, wherein a passage is provided in a
central portion of the sponge, and wherein the portion of the second
length of tubing comprising the small openings is received and secured
within the passage of the sponge.
6. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the portion of the second
length of tubing comprising the small openings is secured within the
passage of the sponge by means of chemical bonding.
7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first length of tubing
comprises a first tube segment, wherein the second length of tubing
comprises a second tube segment, and wherein the container cap comprises
fluid tight connecting means extending from opposite sides thereof for
interconnecting the first tube segment and the second tube segment in a
fluid tight manner.
8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the valve means is mounted
around an outer portion of the second length of tubing.
9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein the valve means comprises a
pinch clamp having a flange portion which is adapted to be pinched so as
to press against and deform a sidewall portion of the second length of
tubing, thereby preventing the flow of detergent in the internal passage
of the second length of tubing.
10. The device as recited in claim 9, wherein the flange portion comprises
a tip, wherein the pinch clamp further comprises a locking portion
comprising a series of ridges, and wherein the tip of the flange portion
is adapted to be held in the pinched position by engagement with one of
the series of ridges.
11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second length of tubing
comprises at least two tube segments, and wherein at least one fluid tight
connecting means is employed for interconnecting the at least two tube
segments so as to form the second length of tubing.
12. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first length of tubing
comprises a first tube segment, the second length of tubing comprises a
second tube segment, and wherein fluid tight connecting means are provided
for interconnecting the first and second tube segments.
13. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the second length of tubing
further comprises a third tube segment, and wherein the second and third
tube segments are joined together by an additional fluid tight connecting
means at a position between the container cap and the element of porous,
absorbent material.
14. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the container cap is further
provided with a vent hole for allowing air to pass through the container
cap.
15. The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the cap comprises a
projecting spout, and wherein the vent hole is provided within the
projecting spout.
16. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the container cap is
threaded.
17. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein an end cap is provided to
close off the end of the second length of tubing.
18. The device as recited in claim 17, wherein the end of the second length
of tubing is received within the passage of the element of porous,
absorbent material and is covered by the protective jacket.
19. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first length of tubing
comprises a first tube segment and the second length of tubing comprises a
second tube segment, and wherein the container cap comprises both:
a first ridged annular projection which is received within an end opening
of the first tube segment; and
a second rigid annular projection which is received within an end opening
of the second tube segment.
20. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the protective jacket
comprises a nylon sleeve which is removably secured around the element of
porous, absorbent material by means of at least one hook-and-loop type
fastener, and wherein a suction cup is secured to a portion of the second
length of tubing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of portable washing implements. More
particularly, this invention pertains to the field of portable, car
washing implements which conserve water and which are reusable and
self-cleaning.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various portable washing implements have been proposed in the prior art.
Examples of these implements are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,919,455, 3,713,744, and 4,886,388. These prior art implements generally
comprise a cleaning element (e.g. in the form of a sponge), a handle
element supporting the cleaning element, and a reservoir secured e.g. to
or within the handle element for holding detergent. However, while these
implements perform adequately as general household cleaning devices, they
are not particularly suited for cleaning large, dirty surfaces such as the
outer body panels of an automobile. Specifically, owing to their
relatively small detergent reservoirs (which are generally intended to
hold concentrated detergent) and also to the configuration and properties
of the sponge material, these implements are not particularly adapted to
shed the large amounts of dirt and debris which are encountered during
automobile cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable car-washing
implement which simultaneously facilitates car-washing and conserves
water.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable car-washing
implement which is relatively simple in structure and, therefore, readily
manufactured.
Specifically, the present invention comprises a device for washing
automobiles which includes: a container cap; a first length of tubing
extending from one side of the container cap; a second length of tubing
extending from a second side of the container cap; passage means extending
through the container cap for connecting an internal passage of the first
length of tubing with an internal passage of the second length of tubing;
means for at least substantially closing an end of the second length of
tubing remote from the container cap; a plurality of small openings formed
in a portion of the second length of tubing in a vicinity near the end of
the second length of tubing; an element of porous, absorbent material
secured to the second length of tubing and covering the plurality of small
openings; and a protective jacket disposed around and substantially
covering the element of porous, absorbent material; wherein the container
cap is adapted to be secured to an opening of a detergent-holding
container after the first length of tubing has been inserted into the
detergent-holding container, wherein the internal passage of the second
length of tubing is adapted to carry a flow of detergent from the
detergent-holding container to the small openings, and wherein the small
openings are adapted to carry the detergent to the element of porous,
absorbent material; and wherein the device further comprises: valve means,
disposed at a position on the second length of tubing between the
container cap and the element of porous, absorbent material, for
selectively closing the internal passage, the valve means being adapted to
selectively prevent the flow of detergent in the internal passage.
The invention will, however, be best understood by a review of the
following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device for washing automobiles
according to the invention with the protective jacket removed from the
sponge;
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the container cap and tube segments of the
device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the pinch clamp shown in the device of FIG. 1;
and
FIG. 4 is an end view of the sponge shown in FIG. 1 with the protective
jacket secured thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown generally at 1 the car-washing
device according to the present invention. The device 1 includes flexible
tubing 2 through which a detergent or other cleaning fluid is adapted to
be fed from a reservoir 3 (which may, according to the present invention,
comprise a one-gallon container) to a sponge 4. According to the presently
preferred embodiment, the tubing comprises a first length of tubing 2a
extending downwardly from a cap 3a of the reservoir 3 and a second length
of tubing (comprising tube segments 2b, 2c) extending from the cap 3a of
the reservoir 3 to the sponge 4. (It is noted that the term "cap" as used
herein denotes any element which is disposed in, on, or around an opening
of the reservoir 3 for the purpose of at least partially restricting,
controlling, or capping a flow of fluid from the reservoir; as such, a
rubber stop or cork would constitute a cap in this context.) Each of the
tube segments 2a, 2b, 2c are made from e.g. 1/4 inch O.D. synthetic siphon
tubing and are joined together in a fluid tight manner by fluid tight
connecting means. The fluid tight connecting means which join together the
tube segments 2a, 2b are provided on the container cap 3a and will be more
particularly described with reference to FIG. 2. The fluid tight
connecting means which joins together the tube segments 2b, 2c is shown at
5 in FIG. 1 and comprises a short segment of 3/8 inch O.D. vinyl tubing
within which opposing ends of the tube segments 2b, 2c are received in
abutting relationship. In the preferred embodiment, the second length of
tubing (comprising the tube segments 2b, 2c) is at least 4 feet long. Of
course, the flexible tubing 2 could be manufactured as a single tube
segment without departing from the essence of the invention.
At the free end 2d of the second length of tubing, a small cap 6 is secured
to the tubing so as to at least substantially close the free end 2d,
thereby preventing (or at least inhibiting) a free flow of detergent out
of the free end 2d of the tubing. Moreover, a plurality of small openings
7 are provided at a portion of the second length of tubing near to the
free end 2d. These openings 7 may, for example, be in the form of holes
drilled into the tubing.
According to the invention, the sponge 4 is provided with a central passage
8 into which the portion of the second length of tubing having the small
openings 7 is inserted. In order to secure the sponge 4 to the second
length of tubing, a gluing agent or other chemical bonding agent may be
applied to the tube segment 2c and/or the sponge 4. A protective jacket 9
is configured so as to be secured around and cover the sponge 4.
Preferably, the protective jacket 9 is made in the form of a nylon sleeve
and comprises separable hook and loop type fasteners 9a at an open end
thereof. These fasteners 9a (which may comprise VELCRO brand fasteners)
are adapted to be closed once the sleeve 9 has been slipped over the
sponge 4 in order to retain the sleeve 9 in position.
Carried by the second length of tubing (e.g. on the tube segment 2c), there
is provided a valve means 10. This valve means 10 (which will be described
in more detail with reference to FIG. 3) may comprise a valve in the form
of a pinch clamp. The valve means 10 is adapted to selectively cut-off
fluid flow inside the second length of tubing.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the container cap 3a comprises fluid tight
connecting means 11 and 12 which extend from opposite sides of the
container cap to interconnect the tube segments 2a, 2b. The fluid tight
connecting means 11 and 12 are similar and each comprise a ridged annular
projection extending from the cap 3a which is adapted to be frictionally
(i.e. fluid tightly) received within an end opening of the respective tube
segment 2a, 2b. The frictional fit between the each of the projections and
the respective tube segment end opening is effective to retain the
respective tube segment in engagement with the cap 3a. Moreover, a
passageway which extends through the cap 3a is formed between the annular
projections. Thus, the tube segments 2a, 2b and the cap 3a together
provide an unobstructed internal passage which extends into and out of the
reservoir 3 and which is able to accommodate a flow of detergent.
Moreover, as seen in FIG. 2, the container cap 3a is provided with screw
threads 13 for engaging corresponding screw threads on the reservoir 3,
whereby the container cap 3a is removably retained on the reservoir 3.
Additionally, the container cap 3a is provided with a projecting spout 14
comprising a vent hole 15 for allowing air into and/or detergent out of
the reservoir 3.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the pinch clamp 10 is shown mounted around the
tube segment 2c so as to constitute a valve. The pinch clamp 10 comprises
a flange portion 16 having a projection 17 adapted to abut against and
deform a sidewall of the tubing so as to close off the internal passage
therein. A locking portion 18 of the pinch clamp 10 comprises a series of
locking ridges 19 which normally engage and constrain a tip of the flange
portion against lateral movement.
The operation of the pinch clamp is as follows:
The pinch clamp normally allows a flow of fluid within the tube segment 2c.
If it is desired to cut off fluid flow, the flange portion may be pressed
towards the tube segment 2c (e.g. while the locking portion 18 is being
pulled away from the flange portion 16), causing the tip of the flange
portion to ride over the ridges 19 and the projection 17 to deform a
sidewall of the tube segment 2c, thereby closing an internal passage
thereof. When a pressure on the flange portion is released, the ridges 19
on the locking member 18 prevent the tip of the flange portion from moving
away from the tube segment 2c. Consequently, the flow of fluid within the
tube segment remains cut off by the pinch clamp even after pressure on the
flange portion is released. If it is desired to reestablish fluid flow in
the tube segment 2c, it is necessary only to pull the locking member out
of engagement with the flange portion (e.g. by deforming the locking
member 18 in the direction of the tube segment 2c away from the flange
portion 16).
Referring lastly to FIG. 4, the nylon sleeve 9 is shown covering the sponge
4 and having its separable fasteners 9a closed so as to retain the sleeve
in position around the sponge.
The operation of the device for washing automobiles is as follows:
Initially, the reservoir is filled with a detergent formula comprising a
mixture of a concentrated biodegradable, non-phosphorous washing agent and
a (e.g. dishwashing) spot clarifier diluted in water. Thereafter, the
first length of tubing is inserted into the reservoir and the reservoir is
capped with the container cap. Next, while holding the vent hole closed,
the reservoir is squeezed so as to cause a flow of detergent formula from
the reservoir, through the tube segments 2a, 2b, 2c, and to the sponge 4.
At this time, the vent hole may be released and the reservoir may be
placed on top of a car to be washed and the nylon sleeve covered sponge
may be manipulated to wash the car. After the body panels and/or windows
of the car are washed, the pinch clamp may be closed to stop the flow of
detergent formula in the tubing. Next, the reservoir may be inverted, and
any detergent formula that remains in the reservoir may be directed onto
the tires and/or wheels of the vehicle by use of the projecting spout on
the container cap. In this manner, the washing of the entire car is
performed effectively, efficiently, and with a minimum of water.
After several car washes, it may become necessary to replace the nylon
sleeve. To accomplish this, it is merely necessary to undo the hook and
loop type fasteners, slip the old sleeve off the sponge, slip a new sleeve
on the sponge, and close the separable fasteners provided on the new
sleeve to secure it to the sponge.
According to the invention, since the sponge is surrounded by the nylon
sleeve and since detergent is constantly flowing out from the center of
the sponge, the sponge is, for the most part, protected and self-cleaning.
Consequently, it is not envisioned that the sponge will often need to be
replaced. However, should such a replacement become desirable or
necessary, the tube segments 2b, 2c may be separated from each other and a
new sponge (e.g. with a new tube segment 2c) or other cleaning implement
may be provided.
While the present invention has been described with certain particularity,
many modifications are envisioned. For example, the second length of
tubing could comprise three tube segments, wherein the third tube segment
would be a short tube segment secured within the passage of the sponge and
connected to the second tube segment (e g. 2c) adjacent to an edge of the
sponge. Furthermore, the tube segment 2c may be positively coupled to the
sponge 4 e.g. by means of an oversized end stop which is secured to the
end of the tube segment and which axially retains the sponge 4 on the tube
segment. Moreover, it will be possible to provide one or more plastic
suction cups on strategic portions of the length of tubing 2 (as shown in
FIG. 1) and/or the container 3. The suction cups will serve to provide
stability to the container if and when the tubing is pulled by the user.
Therefore, the present invention includes the disclosed embodiment and any
modifications thereof which will fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
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